SANTA CLARA – Vernon Davis spoke at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about his disappearance from the 49ers passing offense.
Q: Could we talk?
VERNON DAVIS: Let’s talk about how we can get me involved (laughs). No, I’m just messing with you.
Q: You had just two catches yesterday, but to see other guys in the passing game pick up the slack, does that make it easier for you to take?
VERNON DAVIS: It’s good, but being a competitor, it’s tough to deal with. You want to be involved. Everybody who catches pass wants to be involved. You’re competitive. But I just tell myself: “Just play the game. It’ll come.” It was exciting to see Crabtree do some good things out there, especially Randy Moss. What about Randy? The old man up the sideline. That little two-step before taking off.
ME: Have you spoken to Greg Roman about your level of involvement in the passing game?
VERNON DAVIS: Greg comes up to me after the game and he says, “Vernon, I’m sorry we didn’t get you the ball, but be grateful for the win.” I told him, “Yeah, it’s cool, I’m sure my time will come.” He said, “Thank you for being a team player.” He’s the offensive coordinator. He’s calling the shots, so it’s all up to him.
Q: He apologized to you after the Seahawks game?
VERNON DAVIS: After the Seattle game and after this game.
Q: You had a quiet stretch last year and then you got very productive in the playoffs. Does that give you confidence that your time will likely come again?
VERNON DAVIS: Yeah, I just wait for my opportunities. I know what I can do (chuckle). I know the abilities I have and the things I can do in this game, but I don’t talk about it. The coaches know. I just let them call the shots. I sit back and play my role as a team guy.
ME: How did it make you feel when you saw Jason Witten catch 18 passes on Sunday?
VERNON DAVIS: I can do that too. But it’s cool. I know Jason and I’m happy for him. Like I said, my time will come.
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Vernon Davis 2011 thru 8 games: 31 catches, 329 Yards, 3 TDs
Vernon Davis 2012 thru 8 games: 25 catches, 347 yards, 4 TDs.
Grant – Its the system he plays in. Give it a rest.
Edit: His 2012 yards are 374. Sorry for typo
It’s not the system. Last year AS was getting killed behind a terrible line. They held VD in to protect. It was also the first year in the offense. They didn’t have a full grasp.
This year is a different story. They have Moss who commands doubles. VD is so explosive they have no reason to not get him the ball.
Absolutely no reason.
… unless they’re trying to put those passes to the WR’s outside the numbers on film – trying to get teams to loosen up the center of the field later in the season which could provide VD with more opportunities down the line.
Mike: Most of the season last year, in addition to the poor offensive line play which required VD to block more, He admittedly didn’t know the playbook very well and wasn’t fully comfortable until the end when his numbers started popping.
This year, neither of those two things are happening, so the question becomes: what other reason is there for the decline in his numbers (compared to the end of last season & postseason)? I’d go with both the system argument you made and Mr. Automatic about the coaches trying to purposely establish the WR’s so that teams start to loosen up on stopping VD and the running game.
Hand of fate is moving
And the finger points to you
He knocks you to your feet
And so what are you gonna do
Your tongue has frozen now
You’ve got something to say
The piper at the gates of dawn
Is calling you his way
You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun a newborn in the light
Say goodbye to gravity and say goodbye to death
Hello to eternity and live for every breath
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
The ferryman wants his money
You ain’t going to give it back
He can push his own boat
As you set up off the track
Nothing you can contemplate
Will ever be the same
Every second is a new spark
Sets the universe aflame
You watch the world exploding every single night
Dancing in the sun a newborn in the light
Brothers and their fathers joining hands and make a chain
The shadow of the wicker man is rising up again
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
Your time will come
VD is a key team player.
I saw those lyrics and I was thinking I know this song, iron freaking maiden! You have good taste my friend.
nice dude
Vernon’s time will come. If last night is a sign of things to come, then the NFL will soon learn to not underestimate the passing game of the Niners.
You should have asked Vernon (2 targets last 2 weeks) how he feels playing 2nd fiddle to Walker (4 targets last 2 weeks).
Just like the jack hole you are, you would ask that question. But in fact you would never ask that question cause Vernon would slap you silly.
Big blogger asking others to ask the dirty questions, how noble of you. Kinda like piggy backing this blog for yours,pathetic!
And if anyone is upset about this, I’m just calling it like I see it!
Actually I wouldn’t ask Vernon any of them. The whole Vernon thing is a bunch of turkey jive gobble gobble IMO.
That’s what Vernon wanted to talk about.
What else did you plan on asking him? Is there more to come from this interview?
@ Grant:
Yeah, that Jason Witten question just seems deliberately inciting. What was the point other than to provoke a negative reaction?
I was not inciting, and Davis did not have a negative reaction.
@ grant:
I am glad that Vernon rose above the question, but I see no constructive purpose in asking it.
He had already spoken about his recent level of involvement in the passing game, how he felt about it, how he felt about others getting more opportunities and how he would continue to wait his turn and do what the coaches asked of him. That pretty much covered the topic. For you to then bring up Witten getting 18 catches comes across (to me at least) as rubbing in Davis’s face his comparative lack of targets.
He didn’t rise above the question. He liked the question.
CB,
You have nailed it. Grant’s focus in this blog is the negative. It is to incite and when there is nothing solid he brings in the hypothetical and always in a way to keep the pot boiling. I have been critical of Grant because there are some contributers on this blog who are quite insightful. Oh well….
I’m not convinced asking VD about the play and production of one his contemporaries is inflammatory. If you don’t ask, how will you know? you can only assume, and that, imho, is not an approach fans of this blog would appreciate. It gives Vernon an opportunity to display his blossoming leadership skills and winning smile in the face of adversity!
I have to agree with Claude on this one. That Witten question was unnecessary.
It’s not clear. Did Grant ask all of these questions including the Witten question?
Grant you wrote that there is absolutley no reason why davis is not getting the ball. In your opinion why is’nt he getting the ball? Bad decisions or bad vision on Alex smiths part. Bad game planning on the part of Roman and Harbaugh? Other reasons……I believe its an effort to spread the ball around more and to seriously pound the rock. After last nights performance by Crabtree I’m not so sure that VD is the clear cut #1 most dangerous threat anymore. I would very much like to hear your opinion on the matter
VD is the clear cut #1. Crabtree is good, but Peterson is overrated. He played terribly.
VD isn’t getting the ball because Roman and Harbaugh are determined to feature the wide receivers. It’s irrational, in my opinion.
Grant, I agree with you. Some here that typically berate the starting QB tend to believe MC can be this productive game in game out. I’d like to see it. I’d also like to see VD target 6 times a game minimum.
And yet, they are winning.
So how irrational can the approach be?
Perhaps if you’d cut your teeth covering the Niners in the the Donahue/Erickson days you’d have a better perspective on what irrational football decisions really are.
And your argument that if the running game were being stuffed that the Niners wouldn’t simply stop giving it to Gore is a red herring. Teams need to have good offensive balance between run and pass. They DON’T need to have a certain player catch the ball to be productive.
Right now the supposed blueprint on beating the Niners is to take away Vernon Davis, so you make teams pay elsewhere. When defenses readjust you go back strong to Davis.
VD is not a guy you hit on a slant and expect him to produce big YAC or a guy that you just toss the ball up and know that he can go get it in a crowd. In other words, as big a weapon as he is, there’s no reason to try and force throws his way. You wait until he gets back to being what he’s always been – a severe mismatch on a slower linebacker or a smaller DB and you exploit that.
And yet, the offense nearly was shut out at home by a mediocre defense just three weeks ago.
*targeted*
Only irrational at a later time. Very rational now because practicing now with the WRs will avoid a performance like last year. Remember how you (and everyone else) destroyed the team and Alex for their failure to involve WRs more in the playoffs? Well, this is the exceedingly rational response to those concerns. We know what we’ve got in Vernon, and so does the rest of the league. If we can find out that we’ve got WR weapons as well (and put them on display to the rest of the league) then we should be better off come January. Get it?
Grant i really do’nt have a clear cut opinion either way but keeping a whole group of men happy and productive is a huge part of a pro HC’s job. you can get away with the my way or the high way approach at the college and high school level but not in the pros
@ Grant:
And you think that is because Harbaugh/Roman didn’t target Vernon Davis enough?
VD is definitely our most dangerous receiver, and I don’t understand how an ‘evil genius’ offensive coordinator can’t find ways for him to be more involved in the passing game. I understand using him as a decoy to open things up for others, but that is most successful when you also demonstrate a willingness to get him involved.
Grant, do you believe that some of the offensive woes, AS inconsistency and not targeting VD, is that the game plan may be poor at times or adjustments aren’t in line with what the opponents defense is doing?
I think it’s gameplanning, play designing and play calling.
If defensive ends are chipping Davis, put him in motion. Line him up at wide receiver. Don’t just give up on him.
Grant, I agree. At times, even last night in a winning effort, you have to wonder why he calls two running plays in a row multiple times on 1st and 2nd down thus leaving an obvious passing down a third and long. It seems balanced by the pass/run ratio, but not timely or aggressive play calls.
I agree.
I’d like to see VD run some PHarvin type plays out of the backfield.
That’s a great idea.
What a joke. They put up 24 points in a half and 1 series against a team that had not given up more than 21 points in any game this season and the focus is still on Roman’s issues and the use of Davis? SMH…
The Cardinals were dreadful last night and now they’ve lost four in a row. The NFC West was extremely over rated. The Niners have this division wrapped up right now.
….or, it’s some serious sun tzu $–t …. get everyone to think you are featuring the WRs as you continue to take what the defense is giving you NOW (reaction to the doubles Davis is getting the last few weeks) and when defenses prepare to counter that as you show that you CAN go elsewhere with the ball, you have effectively created single coverage for your best player as the playoffs approach.
Genious…
Jack, no one is critiquing the score or the outcome. It just seems that with more weapons this year, are they being fully optimized? I didn’t like the fact they only threw 4 times in the 2nd half last night. If GR/JH state they want to run the QB shuffle to give their upcoming opponent’s defense something to think about, why not an additional pass play or three to have them think about as well!!
No one’s going to believe this team can be multiple in its passing attack until they prove it game-in and game-out. Would I like to see Vernon get more targets? Of course; the guy’s a freakin’ beast. But, at the same time, this team has to put its capabilities on film during the regular season with an eye on the prize (playoffs/Super Bowl).
Everyone knows about VD and Gore and they prepare accordingly (much to AZ’s chagrin, last night). I get the feeling the coaching staff wants defenses to loosen up and focus a bit more on the outside, and until the WR’s are considered legit threats, I don’t think we VD supporters are going to be satiated.
Hofer,
“I didn’t like the fact they only threw 4 times in the 2nd half last night.”
That comment says a lot. They were up by 24. The best thing to do at that point is speed up the game and limit the possibility of injury, which is exactly what they did.
The offense is at it’s best when it runs the ball early, and then mixes in the pass. They got away from it twice this season and ended up losing both times. Roman called an excellent game last night. The only time the Cardinals stopped them in the first half was when penalties put them in a bad down and distance situation on the first drive.
As for Davis last night was a continuation of the same discussion from the previous 10 days. He was a primary target or second target on a couple of plays in which Smith went elsewhere. And Davis is not Percy Harvin. Davis has great straight line speed, but he can’t stop and start like Harvin.
“The NFC West was extremely over rated.”
The defenses in the division are legit. The difference is that only the 49ers have any offense. Smith is head and shoulders the best QB in the division right now. Heck, it might not be much of a stretch to say the backup is better as well.
Jack, it seems to me with a lead last year they had CK throwing in the 4th qtr to JMorg. No one seemed to matter except for the fact JMorg got a fluke injury on that pass play. So they have done it!
BTW, yes I know VD is not PHarvin. Thanks.
And they learned a valuable lesson that day Hofer. That’s what good coaches do.
And since even you know Davis is not Harvin you should know why your idea of Davis in the backfield doesn’t happen, but instead they use Delanie Walker in that role.
Jack,
They got offensive production from many places last night and I’m certainly not going to complain about that, but I think they can get Davis more passes without it taking away from other players. It’s impossible to keep everyone happy. Crabtree hasn’t smiled all season until last night. But you can’t let it keep you from getting the ball into your best receiving weapons hands.
Roman knows it too otherwise why apologize to Davis for not involving him more? There has to be a fine line drawn between forcing your WR’s to be a bigger part of the offense and excluding your best receiver. Roman is having trouble finding it right now. Last night it wasn’t an issue, but it could be in the future.
Let me see if I understand this correctly. Recent opponents have been devoting extra attention to Vernon Davis, diverting resources to him that otherwise would be focused on other receivers or on the backs.
In response, rather than force the ball to Davis, Harbaugh/Roman have been directing the ball to the players left open by the attention to Davis. By doing so, the 49ers have won the last two games, including last night’s victory in which they used that approach to thoroughly dominate an Arizona defense that has been shutting down offenses all year, including the vaunted New England Patriots.
And, somehow, we are complaining about the coaches? For not being pigheaded, but instead doing the smart thing – winning games and giving future defenses reasons not to devote so much attention to Vernon Davis?
Smh.
Rocket,
You are right it is not an issue. The only one who have an issue with it are the writers and a few fans who are can’t see the forest through the trees.
Claude,
Your theory was correct last night, but the offense struggled in the previous two games. If they are playing Davis differently then you scheme to overcome it. Not involving your best receiver is not a good option imo. Fitz is AZ’s only top option in the passing game and somehow someway they get the ball to him a few times a game and at least attempt a lot more. You can’t let a defense take away your best players.
I’m certainly not complaining about what I saw last night, so don’t think that. I loved what they did overall, but in looking forward I don’t like the idea of continuing to overlook Davis. I think it’s a mistake to accept that he’s being taken away and not doing anything about it.
It’s real easy to get Davis away from being chipped by a Dlineman or to get the ball in his hands in space. I don’t accept that the defense is not allowing him to get the ball at all. Last night they hit the post which was great. I’m sure that is there more than once every few games. They have the quick screens they’ve thrown to him in the past that have disappeared entirely. They haven’t attempted the wheel route in a few games now. Just a few examples of not trying hard enough to get him the ball imo, and I think it has a lot to do with trying to force the WR’s into being a bigger prescence. Roman has got to find the same balance in the passing game as he does with the run to pass ratio.
Jack
Many teams use TEs out of the backfield. New England who often uses AHernandez out of the backfield, even uses backup TE Stevan Ridley out of the backfield.
Grant
Peterson did play poorly. But AS and MC made him play poorly. Just like AS and MC played poorly against the Giants. The Giants made them look bad because of what they did.
Same thing applies here. AS and MC aren’t as bad as they were against NY. And Peterson is still a great young CB.
Try giving some credit to the guys who play well a little more often rather than point out how poor the other team is. Maybe, just maybe, that guy(s) looked poor because the other team was good rather than that guy(s) being bad.
Hofer,
So do the 49ers. They often put Walker in the backfield. They use him instead partly because he has better lateral movement than Davis.
Never say never Jack. Vernon in the backfield would be a new wrinkle to this offense, and we all know how much Harbaugh and Roman love adding wrinkles.
Jack, VD moves very well vertically. Your point was VD couldn’t move as well as PHarvin yet I pointed out that New England’s backup SRidley is used out of the backfield with 4.66 speed. He isn’t as elusive as PHarvin either but they are using creativity to get their tight ends involved.
@ rocket:
I agree that you don’t give up on Davis, but I am not convinced that anyone is giving up on Davis.
I hardly think the problem with the Giants’ game was the use/non-use of Davis. I liked how Harbaugh/Roman used the Seahawks’ obsession with stopping Davis against them in the second half. But for Smith’s foolish interception, that game ends 20-7 and we aren’t so concerned about the offense.
I loved what the offense did last night, and I think it will cause future defenses to think about how much attention to pay to Davis.
In sum, yes I would like to see them find a way to get the ball in Davis’s hands, but I don’t view it as a major problem at this time (especially after last night), and I absolutely don’t subscribe to the idea of forcing the ball to players who aren’t open (I know that you are not calling for that).
I also like that the coaching staff is committed to running a balanced offense. It is much easier to take what the defense gives you if you are well-rounded.
Hofer,
Great, we both agree that Davis has great vertical speed. Unfortunately he is not very quick laterally, which is necessary when coming out of the backfield.
As a result, the 49ers choose to use Delanie Walker in that capacity, in part because his lateral quickness is better than Davis, and he is a much better blocker in on the move, while Davis excels at inline blocking.
All this comes back to your point that the Patriots are getting their TE’s involved. So are the 49ers. The problem is that it isn’t the one that you want to see them utilize.
Jack, I’m not sure what your vocation is (wanna be blogger?) but in this day and age, the terms open-minded and collaboration are often used to describe interactions. It is key to teamwork. It must be hell working with someone like you that has to be right all the time. Unfortunately, in this case, you are incorrect! :0)
Hofer,
I am sorry if you have a problem with someone using actual football knowledge to explain why Davis is not being utilized in the manner you would like.
I thought name calling and put downs were above you.
Jack, Do you ever read how you respond to people (including Grant) in a condescending way? I’m just trying to explain to you that because you now have a blog doesn’t mean you are an authority on all that is NFL football. Most reads are based on opinion.
Hofer,
Again, I am sorry if you don’t like my style. I am simply discussing football, and giving you factual information based on both my observations of the teams and things I have heard from coaches, scouts, etc.
None of this has to do with me having started a blog, thank you again for the suggestion to start one.
I have not once in this thread made any personal comments towards you, yet for one reason or another you chose to come after me personally.
Jack, who said I didn’t like your style? What I don’t like is your rigid can’t be wrong attitude. I pointed out that N.E. is creative and uses all of their TEs from the backfield and you dismissed it. Like I said, it comes off in a condescending way. BTW, why do you think I’m coming at you? I’m just pointing out your demeanor on here lately.
hof
As somebody who doesn’t care about this, everything you described after your opening question towards Jack, I read as “style”.
And “style” is an appropriate word here.
Hofer, “I pointed out that N.E. is creative and uses all of their TEs from the backfield and you dismissed it.”
You mentioned Hernandez and Ridley, and I agreed with you. I also said that the 49ers are doing the same thing with Walker therefore they are being creative with using the TE whose abilities are the best fit to use out of the backfield.
“VD isn’t getting the ball because Roman and Harbaugh are determined to feature the wide receivers. It’s irrational, in my opinion.”
Thats not the way I see it Grant. Harbaugh always has an ulterior motive to everything he does. We know this. AS threw to what? 9 different recievers last night. He’s getting pretty good at it. Building some chemistry with everyone. Knowing where everyone is. That Moss TD last night, if I’m not mistaken, was his 3rd read.
Now, watching the Seattle game, they chose to double VD with a safety and a LB. That left 7 in the box and we attacked accordingly to the tune of a crap load of rushing yards. I was reading something earlier where one of our o-lineman was watching something on tv before the game and they were talking to a d-lineman from AZ and he said they were gonna stop our run and make AS beat us.. We all know what happened there. They didn’t show alot of the coverage on replays of how they were covering VD so I’m not sure but my point is, is teams are going to have to play us honestly by doing this. If game plans aren’t working on different ways to stop us, then mission accomplished. They’ll eventually know that stacking the box ain’t working, doubling VD ain’t working, and they know dang well straight up D ain’t going to work, then things will open up for Davis and everything else. Some teams try to take Gore and Davis out of the equation and by doing so, think we have nothing. We’re giving them a dose of what we do have if they elect to defend us that way. By doing this and getting it on film before playoff run is simply genius.
I forgot my gobble gobble turkey!
I hope we have seen the last of the wild cat formation. Before the Kaepernick groupies leap from the woodwork, label me a “Smither” and start calling me stupid, my hope has nothing to do with the relative strengths and weaknesses of the QBs.
The wild cat formation is a gimmick. Good teams don’t use it. It’s that simple. More often than not it is a drive killer.
Barring an injury to Smith or a blowout situation, Kaepernick should not see any playing time until the coaches decide he is a better player than Smith. If and when Harbaugh reaches that conclusion then by all means bench Smith and start Kaepernick.
I have no idea whether Kaepernick will develop into a star and neither does any other fan. There have been plenty of young players who were impressive in college that never turned into solid pros. There are also a bunch who seemed pretty ordinary coming out of college and went on to be stars. Kaepernick hasn’t done anything in the pros that suggests that he will be a star. But, he hasn’t done anything that indicates he will not, either.
I will say, however, that the flat brimmed baseball hat makes Kaepernick look like a dork. Some people can pull off that look, others can’t.
I totally agree.
This interview is the reason I own 2 Vernon Davis jerseys. He has grown up so much in the last 3 years. Class act. An he’s so good they won’t be able to NOT get him the ball soon. Wheeeew! VD85
Are you still thinking about getting a Culter jersey MD?
Just so you know MD, I’m not trying to instigate anything here. I’m just being curious here.
A cutler jersey? Heeeeelllll never! I have a bet with a friend that is a Bears fan and a jersey will be worn and a Super Bowl party will be paid for. That’s all that’s about. I NEVER wear another teams Jersey. That goes for all sports. I have at least 20 different colored A’s hats to match my clothes and about the same with Laker and 49er hats. Because I have to match and I refuse to wear other teams. If someone put a gun to my head or threatened my wife of Fam with death and made me pick a jersey that’s not my teams to wear. It would have to be John Riggins. But that will never happen.
Tell your Bears friend that he’ll look good in a Niners jersey. :-)
He knows. He wore one a couple of years ago. When Cutler was serving up INTs for lunch. ’twas a looong ride home for him with the after game show on the radio. Lol
He’s a team player and always, always has his QB’s back!!
Okay….so let me see I can add my two cents here.
Everyone saw what Vernon Davis did in the playoffs last year. It was freakish. Everyone knows that he is one of the most explosive players in the league. Our WRs on the other hand are not known to be explosive. If you really pay attention, you notice that they actually ARE explosive, just terribly inconsistent.
I’m not in the offensive meetings so I can only speculate…but my gut tells me that G-Ro knows what he’s doing. I think G-Ro and Harbaugh know that it’s paramount to establish the receivers as a threat during the season so that when the playoffs hit they can’t just double and triple team Vernon. They have to work those kinks out now so that Crabtree doesn’t have a repeat of his 2011 playoff performance. I see G-Ro doing just enough to win in a commanding fashion (sometimes things get out of hand) while he works out other kinks and test other plays in game day situations. This way he knows what really works and what is just fantasy and fluke (some of the CK7 plays). I think once we’ll see another explosion near or in the playoffs. I can imagine he doesn’t want too much game film out there on some of his more creative plays; and not necessarily that teams won’t eventually get the game film, but that nobody will know how he’s planning to sequence the play against certain defenses.
Vernon will get his; and once people at least respect our WRs, Davis will essentially have free reign in the passing attack. We’ve established that we can run the ball, now we have to make teams put their safeties on our WRs and not use them to double VD or stack box and instead put LBs on VD (which is ALWAYS a mismatch). When they’re forced to give us those looks, we’ll exploit them with the draw and with VD slipping to either the side line (Giants 2011 playoffs), seam (always reliable), and the post (Saints 2011 playoffs).
So everyone take a deep breath! We’re 6-2 and we’re starting to see Moss get involved. I would expect to see Manningham get some production soon, so come the playoffs we can exact our revenge on the Giants and be ready for the both the Falcons and the Texans.
Well said NinersRoc!
@ NinersRoc:
Your comment makes much sense. Stop that. You make the rest of us look bad.
Enjoy. It’s a great year.
I guess I should of read down a bit further. I posted a similar analogy above. I’m probably sure you said it much better tho. The only thing I disagree with is your prediction on Houston. Denver is playing better every game I watch them. PM will do what AR did to them. Falcons are also overrated IMO!
Grant, Davis’ production is not a problem for the fans, it is only a problem for professional nitpickers such as yourself (not meant as an insult).
How did it make you feel when you saw Jason Witten catch 18 passes on Sunday?
The Cowboys lost.
Stevan Ridley is not a back up, he is the starting RB for NE.